Mumbai Ward Watch: Pollution, traffic, congestion plague eastern suburbs of the city

While pollution is an issue across the city, air and dust pollution are particularly problematic in this ward, courtesy the industrial emissions from nearby Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF), BPCL plants in Mahul and the Deonar dumping ground.

Further, the massive redevelopment work going on primarily across Chembur, Tilak Nagar, and Pestom Sagar areas has contributed to dust and construction debris. These areas traditionally have smaller buildings, making it more lucrative for builders to replace them with taller, swankier buildings.

Rajkumar Sharma from the Chembur-based Advanced Locality Management and Networking Action Committee (ALMANAC) said that pollution has been a “continuous problem” in the Chembur area, and during winters it gets especially bad.

“There is heavy smog till morning, and the smell from the Deonar dumping ground pervades the area. The ammonia is especially bad as it causes burning of the eyes. Pollution remains a major issue in the area due to the refineries and dumping ground,” he added.

Further, thanks to major roads like the Eastern Freeway, EEH, SCLR and other roads like the RC Marg and VN Purav Marg, there are frequent complaints of traffic issues, and the area generally faces heavy congestion. Unplanned digging of roads for projects like metro or monorail without coordination with other agencies makes it particularly chaotic.

Even when it comes to public walkways, there have also been complaints of encroachments on footpaths by food stalls and markets, which hardly leave any space for people to walk. The encroached footpaths are in such a poor state that it is difficult for locals to walk in the area.

The massive redevelopment work going on primarily across Chembur, Tilak Nagar, and Pestom Sagar areas has contributed to dust and construction debris. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)

Suman Jadhav, a Chembur postal colony resident, said, “The road just outside the Chembur railway station is congested with heavy traffic, and footpaths have been completely taken over by the hawkers. Ironically, there is a BMC office on the road, but it doesn’t change anything.”

Asha Marathe, former corporator of Ward no. 152 that comprises Chembur West and who has been renominated by the BJP from the same ward, agreed that some roads, like the one outside the Chembur railway station, have congestion issues.

When asked for her solution for the same, she said, “We had sought that corporators too should be included in the Town Vending Committees so that we too could contribute. However, the entire process has been stuck in the courts, due to which nothing much has happened.”

“BMC acts occasionally, but things go back to the usual again. Regular action is needed, and I will ensure it is done once I am voted back to power,” she added. On the issue of pollution plaguing the area, she said, “I have asked BMC to spray water every day so that the pollution levels come down.”

Key issues in the area:

• Pollution due to refineries and the dumping yard
• Heavy traffic on several main roads, especially at bottlenecks like Amar Mahal Junction
• Encroachment on several roads, like the one outside Chembur West, where hawkers have taken over the footpaths
• Congestion due to traffic and encroachments
• Massive redevelopment projects leading to dust and construction debris

Mumbai Ward Watch

Total voters in constituencies

• 149 – 49,134
• 150 – 37,242
• 151 – 51,622
• 152 – 54,146
• 153 – 47,302
• 154 – 51,787
• 155 – 54,574